Who needs Ariana Grande? That felt like the message that the 2019 Grammy Awards was sending out during its live telecast on TV last Monday morning, Feb. 11.

Please note that Grande, the No. 1 selling pop artist of the moment backed out of performing at the awards night because of creative differences with show producers. Grande is truly grande these days so that is not good for a show facing dwindling ratings and at a time when the Grammy Awards itself is facing other controversies.

Rap artists like Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino and others also opted out of appearing because hip-hop recordings never seem to win in the major categories anyway. Drake, supposed to be a no show changed his mind and came to accept the Best Rap Song trophy for his God’s Plan and also to dis the Grammy during his acceptance speech. Childish Gambino did not and lost the chance to savor the joy of accepting wins for his This Is America in the major categories of Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

As for Grande, she also lost the chance of holding her first Grammy ever, Best Pop Vocal Album for Sweetener. Besides this, I do not think she was missed at the event. No way that can happen when the Grammy show fielded what must be the strongest line-up of female celebs ever seen on television including no less than former first lady, Michelle Obama, who said that “Music shows us that all of it matters, every story, every voice, every note in every song.”

There were some missteps like JLo tried very hard but was all wrong for the Motown Tribute number. What were Post Malone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers trying to do? And why so many throwback medleys, Motown, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and Dolly Parton in one show.

Oh but everybody loves Dolly and up there on stage, she really showed the kids around how to be and how to behave like a legend. Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves and Little Big Town came to sing with her in Here You Come Again, After The Gold Rush, 9 to 5. Love and standing ovation all around. And she did not even have to sing I’ll Always Love You.

Cardi B too was a bundle of good vibes performing Money and in her sweet and sincere acceptance speech; Lady Gaga was fantastic with a glamrock Shallow; Janelle Monae made vinyl cool moonwalking to Dyango Jane; country music divas Kacey Musgraves and Brandi Carlile brought power to their acoustic solos.

There were also Dua Lipa, St. Vincent, Fantasia Barino, Bebe Rexha and many more brought female power to the Grammys this year. The evening’s host was the relaxed, very cool and refreshing Alicia Keys who is still in the no-make-up mode, which I say is great but only if you look like Alicia Keys.

Oh, Shawn Mendes can really rock and Korean boy group BTS were in the audience looking all handsome in dapper tuxedos. I have a feeling we will see them as presentors next year.

When US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited last week, he made assurances his country would come to the Philippines’ defense in the event of an armed attack on our vessels and aircraft in the South China Sea.

President Duterte and visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad emphasized yesterday the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in maintaining peace and progress in the region, which is grappling with territorial disputes as well as China’s muscle-flexing.